Off-road safety urged after 47-year-old Geraldton man dies in quad bike accident

A Geraldton man has died in a quad bike accident south of Geraldton this week, prompting warnings to be vigilant about off-road vehicle safety. The 47-year-old had been driving a Yamaha Raptor quad bike on the sand dunes near the Greenough River mouth on Tuesday afternoon when the accident occurred. Friends called for help after they found the man lying on the ground next to the vehicle. Paramedics attended the scene near Greenough River Road at 5.15pm and attempted to revive the man. Despite their best efforts, he succumbed to injuries and was declared dead at the scene. Geraldton Police Station officer in charge acting Sen Sgt Stuart Gerreyn said the driver — who was not wearing a helmet at the time —may have hit a patch of rough terrain, throwing him off the vehicle. It is understood the man was carrying someone on the back of the bike shortly before the accident, but there were no passengers involved in the crash. Sen Sgt Gerreyn urged people to take care when using quad bikes on designated sites or off-road on beaches and dunes. “When riding any off-road vehicles, do so safely by wearing the appropriate safety equipment and riding with other people, so that if an accident does occur you’re not potentially lying out in the middle of nowhere seriously injured with no one around to help you,” he said. City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn echoed Sen Sgt Gerreyn’s advice, saying the responsible use of off-road vehicles would help keep drivers and emergency service personnel safe. “With the upcoming Easter break and school holidays there will be many people on our beaches and dunes, it is even more important to exercise caution and care when driving quad bikes and 4WDs,” he said. “The City urges everyone to be careful and understand how difficult it can be for emergency services to access certain sites.” There has been at least one other fatal quad bike accident in WA this year, with a 69-year-old man who was not wearing a helmet declared dead after a workplace incident. According to Safe Work Australia, there have been at least seven quad bike deaths in WA since 2017. Of those, three occurred outside of the workplace. Investigations into the Geraldton incident are ongoing and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.